http://clutchmagonline.com/lifeculture/feature/hood-politics-the-foreign-business-takeover/
this may explain some reasons why there arn't many black owned businesses in non black areas..
But the problem is deeper than immigrants. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to prove they are the problem. There is a disparity in the incentive levels of entrepreneurship between the cultures. Integration has de-emphasized the need for Black business ownership within the Black community, whereas first-generation immigrants are almost forced to become self-employed in the Black community because:
* They generally aren’t fluent in English
* Companies exercise discrimination practices
* They aren’t educated in American colleges and universities, therefore many companies don’t recognize their educational or training credentials
*
Land and business permits are easier to acquire in blighted areas (because white folks don’t generally want to deal with the customers and environs)
Add an entrenched work ethic (after all, you don’t move halfway across the world if you’re not motivated) and delayed gratification, plus the use of family members as cheap or unpaid labor…and you have conditions necessary for sustained business ownership.
Many Black people feel these businesses should invest in the community where they make their living. But is forcing businesses to give back the proverbial “wiping your nose to cure a cold” syndrome? If American Deli has to donate a certain percent of their income to the ‘hood, how would that enhance the economic and educational understanding among the people in that ‘hood?
Boycotting businesses aren’t the answer. Yet. Neither is forcing businesses to give back. Progress has to come from the bottom-up and a renewed focus on entrepreneurship in the Black community. Moving from a consumer-oriented focus to a producer-oriented focus means shedding the “blacks don’t support black-owned businesses” stereotype.
If Darren organized a boycott against American Deli or [fill in the blank of any *Korean-owned business], and that business leaves, can the community survive economically with majority Black ownership? A boycott would be effective only when that answer is a resounding yes. At this moment, the answer may not be pleasant.
*Though there are many other immigrants who start businesses in predominantly black communities, Asian-Americans, statistically, are the most likely (foreign) ethnic group to start their own business. Koreans are the highest business owners (percentage-wise) among Asian-Americans, according to 2000 Census numbers.
